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@uiten tate getint @fitta IMPROVEMENT IN vPIPE WRENGHES..

\ ilge Stigetnle xmms tu ir tigen teiers iiten't mit uniting mrt nf tige'simr,

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. CLOSE, of the city of BulTalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Pipe or Cylinder I'Vrcnch; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whichi Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved Wrench, represented as grasping a pipe.

Figures 2 and 3 are detached sectional views of the jaw c.

My invention relates to Vthat class of wrenches used for grasping and turning round bolts, gas and water pipes, and other articles of cylindrical foim; and it consists in thc combination of a sliding tooth-block, with divergent jaws rigidly attached to the `wrench handle, and also, in combination therewith, of a spring, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, A represents the stock or lever, made either of wrought or cast iron, or of iron and wood, which is divided at the end into forked or'diverging jaws, b c. The jaw Z1 is roughenodor indented on its face, preferably, as shown, with teeth, d, pointed or inclined inward toward the angle s, so as to engage with the pipe m, or other cylindrical article, and prevent its slipping or turning outward. This indented face, d, should be made of steel, and may be secured to the jaw or stock by welding, dove-tailing, or in any other suitahlemanner, or the indentations may be formed in the face of the jaw b itself, as desired. It is not absolutely essential that the block e be roughened on its face, as the wrenchV will operate e'eetively without. The jaw c-I provide with a movable block, e, indented in an opposite direction, so as to prevent the article'grasped from turning inward. This block e vmay be secured to the jaw in the manner shown, (most clearly in iig. 3,) by means of flanges, ff, which overlap the jaw, which is widest on the face, so as to form a dove-tail, which secures it t0 the jaw, while it is allowed a free sliding movement thereon. Although I prefertliis mode of attachment, any other suitable one may be employed which leaves the face-block free to slide, as above stated. Between this indented and adjustable face, e, and the angle or forks of the jaws, I employ a coiled orvspiral spring, g, or equivalent, in the manner shown, which serves to keep the block e pressed out near the end of the jaw when the wrench is not in use, in which position it should be when applying the instrument to a pipe'for other article, as will presently be described. ,I do not wish to confine myself to this kind or arrangement of the spring, as various others maybe employed with like effect; such, for instance, as a spring on the outside, at either or both edges of the block. W'hile the use of the spring renders the instrument more perfect and automatic in its operation, yet it may he dispensed with. A screw or pin, z', passing through the end of thejaw, as shown, prevents the block being removed,

or other suitable means may be employed for the purpose. The face of the block may be made either straight,

curved, or V-shaped, but I prefer the form shown. Thedegree of divergence of the jaws may also be varied, if required.

The operation of my improved wrench is as follows: It is placed on the pipe m, lor other cylinder to be held or turned, in the position shown in g. I, the movable face e adjusting backward toward the angle of the jaws, according to t'he size of the cylinder, when, by moving the lever in the direction of the arrow, the teeth or otherwise roughened surfaces of thejaws engage with the article between them in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of its slipping. The face of the jaw being rigid, andimmovably holding the surface of the oylin; der in contact with it, the tendency of thc opposite side to turn as the handle is movod operates in a direction to cause the movable face to wedge towardV the angle s, thereby grasping the pipe` or rod in a most unyielding manner, Vand carrying it around with thei instrument; and by reversing the motion of the handle, the cylinder is instantly released for a new hold, the -recoil of the now partially compressed spring forcing the block e into its normal position again. j

The principal advantages of my improvement over others employed for a similar purpose are, its simplicity of construction, and its consequent cheapness, dispensing, as it does, withv pivoted jaws, which require the instrument to be made of wrought iron, and fitted with great labor and care; the facility with which it is operated, being automatic, by means of the spring, in adjusting itself topipes of diter'ent sizes, and in turning them; its great durability and strength-dispensing with joints and pivots, it maybe formed of greatly increased strength, in proportion to the weight of, metal employed. Another great advantage is, that -a set of faces, e,

varying in size, form, and indentation, may be used with the same wrench, as occasion may require. All that is necessary to make the change is to remove the stop t', when the required face may be readily substituted, thereby adapting the same instrument to almost-every variety of article and use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The sliding jaw-block e, in combination with the diver-ging jaws b c, and lever A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In combination therewith I also claim the `use of the spring y, or its equivalent, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my neme in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J'. W. CLOSE.

Witnesses:

JAY HYATT, JAMES C. BROWN. 

